Big Pun
Big Pun in 1998
Big Pun in 1998
Background information
Birth nameChristopher Lee Rios
Also known as
  • Big Punisher
  • Big Dog The Punisher
  • Big Moon Dawg[1]
Born(1971-11-10)November 10, 1971
New York City, U.S.
DiedFebruary 7, 2000(2000-02-07) (aged 28)
White Plains, New York, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • actor
Years activec. 1994–2000[2]
Labels
Formerly ofTerror Squad
Children3, including Chris Rivers
Websitewww.officialbigpun.com

Christopher Lee Rios (November 10, 1971 – February 7, 2000),[3][4] better known by his stage name Big Pun (short for Big Punisher), was an American rapper. Emerging from the underground hip hop scene in the Bronx, he came to prominence upon discovery by fellow Bronx rapper Fat Joe, thereafter appearing on his 1995 album Jealous One's Envy.

In 1997, Big Pun signed with Fat Joe's label, Terror Squad Productions, an imprint RCA and Loud Records. The same year, he released his Grammy Award-nominated debut studio album Capital Punishment (1998) to critical acclaim and commercial success, peaking at number five on the Billboard 200 and becoming the first solo hip hop record by a Latino artist to earn platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His second album, Yeeeah Baby (2000) saw further success at number three on the chart, although Pun died shortly before its release.[5]

Early life

Rios was born in The South Bronx in New York City to parents of Puerto Rican descent. He grew up in the Soundview neighborhood and had at least two sisters and one brother.[6][7][2] He regularly played basketball and trained in boxing.[6]

He moved out of his mother's house at age 15 and was homeless for a period of time in the late 1980s.[8] Later, he received a large settlement from the city stemming from an incident in 1976, where Rios broke his leg while playing in a park.[9] Using his settlement money, Rios married his high school sweetheart, Liza, and the two moved into a home together.

Rios struggled with depression stemming from his turbulent childhood, and he coped with it by overeating. Between the ages of 18 and 21, Rios' weight rocketed from 180 lb (82 kg) to 300 lb (140 kg); he was subsequently unable to tie his own shoes.[8][6]

Career

During the late 1980s, he began writing rap lyrics. He later formed the underground group Full-A-Clips with Lyrical Assassin, Joker Jamz and Toom. Rios made a number of recordings with the group in the 1990s, which have not been released. At this point Rios was operating under the alias Big Moon Dawg.[10] After changing his stage name to Big Punisher, Rios met fellow Puerto Rican and Bronx rapper Fat Joe in 1995 and made his commercial debut on Fat Joe's second album, Jealous One's Envy, in addition to appearing on the song, "Watch Out". He also appeared on The Beatnuts' song "Off the Books".

Capital Punishment (1997–1998)

In 1997, Big Pun began recording songs for his debut album Capital Punishment. In 1997, producer Knobody's production partner Sean C took advantage of his new role as A&R at Loud Records to play Knobody's tracks to Big Pun.[11] Suitably impressed, the rapper hired Knobody to remix "I'm Not a Player".[11] The remixed song, featuring Joe and titled "Still Not a Player", became Big Pun's first major mainstream hit and major breakthrough for Knobody.[11] The full-length debut Capital Punishment followed in 1998, and became the first album by a solo Latino rapper to go platinum,[5] peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. Capital Punishment was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.

The Terror Squad collaboration album (1999–2000)

Big Pun became a member of Terror Squad, a New York–based group of rappers founded by Fat Joe, with most of the roster supplied by the now-defunct Full-A-Clips who released their debut album The Album in 1999. The album did not fare well commercially but it was well received critically and the album was meant to start the foundation for all other Terror Squad members to release their solo projects.

Health problems and death

Rios struggled with weight issues his entire adult life. He weighed 180 pounds (82 kg) at age 18, which increased to 300 pounds (140 kg) at 21.[12] His weight fluctuated in the early 1990s between obese and morbidly obese.[12] Rios enrolled in a weight-loss program at Duke University in 1999, and shed 80 pounds (36 kg), but he prematurely quit the program and eventually regained the weight.[12] His weight was a constant topic of argument among him and his friends, to the point that Rios would not eat around them.[2][12]

On February 5, 2000, Rios withdrew from a planned Saturday Night Live performance with Fat Joe and Jennifer Lopez due to illness. Two days later while staying at the Crowne Plaza Hotel with his family in White Plains, New York, he suffered a heart attack and respiratory failure and was rushed to White Plains Hospital, where he died at the age of 28 after paramedics were unable to revive him. His weight had reached a peak of 698 pounds (317 kg) at the time of his death.[13][14] Rios was survived by his wife, Liza, and their three children,[15] Star, Vanessa and Christopher Jr.[16]

Posthumous works and legacy

Big Pun's second album, Yeeeah Baby, completed after his death, was released in April 2000. It peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard charts and earned gold record status within three months of its release. A posthumous compilation album, Endangered Species, was released in April 2001. Endangered Species collected some of Pun's greatest hits, previously unreleased material, numerous guest appearances, and remixed "greatest verses." As with his other albums, it also peaked in the top ten of the Billboard 200, reaching No. 7, but didn't sell as much as the previous Big Pun albums had. He collaborated with Fat Joe on Duets: The Final Chapter, an album of tracks featuring The Notorious B.I.G., also deceased. The track "Get Your Grind On" begins with a Big Pun radio interview in which he said he would perform a duet with Biggie at the gates of heaven.[17] Pun was also featured on a track from the revived Terror Squad's second album, True Story, on the track "Bring 'Em Back" with Big L, another deceased rapper.

On May 2, 2001, the New York City Council stalled plans to rename a small portion of Rogers Place as a tribute, due to distaste over Big Pun's lyrics that "include[d] profanity and references to violence and drug dealing".[18]

A second posthumous album was planned for release by Sony Music Entertainment in 2006 but was shelved due to a dispute with producer John "Jellybean" Benitez, who owned the publishing rights to many of the intended album's tracks.[19] In June 2005, Liza Rios put her husband's $100,000 custom Terror Squad medallion up for auction on eBay, citing financial difficulties due to receiving no royalties from Pun's album sales.[20]

On March 22, 2021, the intersection of East Fordham Rd and Grand Concourse in his native Bronx was named "Big Pun Plaza" in Pun's honor. A ceremony including family, friends, and local politicians preceded the street naming.[21]

Discography

Studio albums
Posthumous compilation album

Singles

Title Release Peak chart positions[22] Album
US US
R&B/HH		 US
Rap
"I'm Not a Player" 1997 57 19 3 Capital Punishment
"Still Not a Player" (featuring Joe) 1998 24 6 13
"You Came Up" (featuring Noreaga) 103 49 43
"It's So Hard" (featuring Donell Jones) 2000 75 19 11 Yeeeah Baby
"100%" (featuring Tony Sunshine) — 64 —
"How We Roll" (featuring Ashanti) 2001 — 53 16 Endangered Species
"Lyrically Fit (The Bigger They R)" (featuring Chris Rivers, Cormega, Shaquille O'Neal and Easy Mo Bee) 2014 — — — Bronx Legends Never Die EP
Title Release Peak chart positions Album
US US R&B US Rap
"Firewater" (Fat Joe featuring Big Pun, Raekwon, and Armaggedon) 1996 — 116 — Endangered Species
"Off the Books" (The Beatnuts featuring Big Pun and Cuban Link) 1997 86 52 12 Stone Crazy
"Some 1 2 Hold" (Veronica featuring Big Pun and Cuban Link) — 101 — Rise
"Western Ways Part II" (Delinquent Habits featuring Big Pun and JuJu) 1998 — 102[23] — Here Come the Horns
"I'll Be Around" (Rah Sun featuring Big Pun and Deuce) 125[24] 89[25] 30[26] It's Not a Game
"Bet Ya Man Can't (Triz)" (Fat Joe featuring Big Pun, Cuban Link and Triple Seis) — 54 37 Don Cartagena
"From N.Y. to N.O." (Mr. Serv-On featuring Big Pun) 1999 20 11 3 Da Next Level
"On Point" (Heavy D featuring 8Ball and Big Pun) — — — Heavy
"Symphony 2000" (Truck featuring Big Pun, Kool G Rap and KRS-One) 2000 — — 35[27] non-album single
"Feelin' So Good" (Jennifer Lopez featuring Fat Joe and Big Pun) 51 44 — On the 6

Music videos


Title

 Release Director
"I'm Not a Player" 1997 David Perez Shadi
"Twinz (Deep Cover '98)" 1998 Chris Robinson[28]
"Still Not a Player" Darren Grant[29]
"You Came Up"
"It's So Hard" 2000 Chris Robinson[28]
"100%"
"How We Roll" 2001

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Moesha Himself Credited as Big Punisher
1999 Thicker Than Water Punny
Urban Menace Crow
Whiteboyz Don Flip Crew Uncredited
2000 Boricua's Bond Himself Credited as Big Punisher
Posthumous release
2002 Big Pun: Still Not a Player Himself Archival footage
Posthumous release
Big Pun Live Himself
2007 Rap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the Cops Himself[30]
2008 Big Pun: The Legacy Himself
2010 Big Pun's Legacy: The Lost Files Himself

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result
1999 Capital Punishment Grammy Award for Best Rap Album Nominated[31]

References

  1. ↑ Fasman, Ben (April 9, 2007), RADIO DAYS: BOBBITO GARCIA: Highlights from Issue 30: Hip-Hop Nuggets., retrieved December 26, 2022
  2. 1 2 3 Huey, Steve (2002). "Big Punisher > Biography". Retrieved December 20, 2008.
  3. ↑ The Source: The Magazine of Hip-hop Music, Culture & Politics. Source Publications, Incorporated. 2000. p. 235. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Big Pun". Biography.com. August 9, 2017. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Gold & Platinum – Big Pun". RIAA. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 "It's So Hard: Big Pun's Widow Liza Rios Speaks on His Life, Death, and Legacy – Mass Appeal". April 3, 2015. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  7. ↑ Valdes, Mimi (August 1998). "Pound for Pound". Vibe. 6 (8): 108–111. Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "The Rise And Fall of Big Pun". April 13, 2015. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Big Pun". DeadPoetz.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  10. ↑ Stavan, Ilan (July 29, 2014). Latin Music: Musicians, Genres, and Themes. ABC-CLIO. p. 332. ISBN 9780313343964. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 "Interview With Knobody". HitQuarters. September 27, 2005. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Big Punisher Weighed 700 Pounds, Had Enlarged Heart". SonicNet. February 8, 2000. Archived from the original on March 2, 2000. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Rapper Christopher `Big Pun' Rios, 28". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  14. ↑ Pareles, Jon (February 9, 2000). "Christopher Rios, 28, Rapper Recorded Under Name Big Punisher". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
  15. ↑ "Star Rios (Big Pun's Daughter) – The First Born (Documentary)". DoggieDiamondsTV. December 30, 2016. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  16. ↑ Harling, Danielle (June 5, 2013). "Chris Rivers". Hiphopdx.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  17. ↑ Juon, Steve (December 20, 2005). "Notorious B.I.G: Duets: The Final Chapter". RapReviews.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
  18. ↑ Cardwell, Diane (May 2, 2001). "Bronx: No Street For Big Pun". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
  19. ↑ Petipas, Jolene (July 5, 2006). "Producer Delays Release of New Big Pun Album". SOHH.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2006. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  20. ↑ Cherry, Carl (June 29, 2005). "Big Pun's Terror Squad Medallion on Sale at eBay for Diddely". SOHH.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2006. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  21. ↑ Ismael Ruiz, Matthew (March 22, 2021). "Big Pun Honored With Bronx Street Corner". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Big Punisher > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". allmusic. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  23. ↑ "Western Ways Part II". Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles. Billboard. September 26, 1998. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  24. ↑ "I'll Be Around". Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles. Billboard. September 26, 1998. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  25. ↑ "I'll Be Around". Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Billboard. October 3, 1998. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  26. ↑ "I'll Be Around". Hot Rap Singles. Billboard. November 7, 1998. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  27. ↑ "Symphony 2000". Hot Rap Singles. Billboard. October 30, 1999. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  28. 1 2 "Chris Robinson". MVDBase.com. Archived from the original on February 12, 2010. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  29. ↑ Grant, Darren (director); Big Pun (performer); Joe (performer) (2000). Still Not a Player (Music video). Loud Records. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014.
  30. ↑ Don Sikorski (director) (2007). Rap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the Cops (documentary).
  31. ↑ "CNN – 41st annual Grammy nominees – January 5, 1999". CNN. Archived from the original on May 1, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
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